Tamper proof storage and dispensing unit for cans of oil and the like

ABSTRACT

A storage and dispensing unit is a part of an upright cabinet. The unit extends over a vertical wall of the cabinet and includes a generally open area in which a plurality of semi-circular elongated members are supported for rotational movement. An actuator is connected to and will rotate the elongated members to turn the open sides thereof to the wall of the cabinet or alternatively away from the cabinet wall. The cabinet includes a movable cover which, when closed, encloses a space through which the actuator is accessible. The actuator is accessible only through the space so defined and when not being used is locked in place so that when the cover is closed the elongated members can not be rotated. Cans of oil, and the like, can be stacked in the semi-circular members and when the semi-circular members are turned to the cabinet wall the cans cannot be removed but rotation of the semi-circular members will expose the cans for removal.

United States Patent 1 Kleppin 1 Nov. 12, 1974 TAMPER PROOF STORAGE AND DISPENSING UNIT FOR CANS OF OIL AND THE LIKE [75] Inventor: Roland P. Kleppin, Greenfield, Wis.

[73] Assignee: Display Corporation International, Milwaukee, Wis.

[22] Filed: Aug. 20, 1973 I [21] Appl. No.: 389,816

[52] US. Cl. 312/100, 312/217 [51] Int. Cl A47b 81/00, EOSb 65/46 [58] Field of Search 3l2/l07.5, 100 220, 221, 312/216, 217, 218, 212, 45, 42, 43, 72, 310;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,044,682 11/1912 Melcnert 211/49 D 1,277,412 9/1918 Hardart.... 312/216 X 1,625,193 4/1927 Curtin 312/43 2,130,371 9/1938 Townsend.... 312/312 UX 2,249,005 7/1941 Karns 211/49 R 2,506,864 5/1950 Ferguson 211/4 X 2,681,156 6/1954 Williams 312/217 X Z4 a g A s Z:

Ill a;

Ke'rschner 312/218 Settlemire 312/212 Primary Examiner-Paul R. Gilliam 5 7 ABSTRACT A storage and dispensing unit is a part of an upright cabinet. The unit extends over a vertical wall of the cabinet and includes a generally open area in which a plurality of semi-circular elongated members are supported for rotational movement. An actuator is connected to and will rotate the elongated members to turn the open sides thereof to the wallof the cabinet -or alternatively away fromthe cabinet wall. The cabinet includes a movable cover which, when closed, encloses a space through which the actuator is accessible. The actuator is accessible only through the space so defined and when not being used is locked in place so that when the cover is closed the elongated members can not be rotated. Cans of oil, and the like, can be stacked in the semi-circular members and when the semi-circular members are turned to the cabinet wall the cans cannot be removed but rotation of the semicircular members will expose the cans for removal.

9 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures TAMPER PROOF STORAGE AND DISPENSING A UNIT FOR CANS OF OIL AND THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to cabinets for storing, displaying, and dispensing articles such as canned oil or the like.

This invention will be discussed in connection with a cabinet for use in a service station for storing, displaying, and dispensing motor oil. It should be noted, however, that the invention can be used with articles other than canned motor oil.

Pilfering in and around service stations is a recognized problem and exists during periods when the stations are open for business as well as closed. It is also desirable to display canned oil in open for ease of service and also as sales promotion but this makes the displayed cans easy prey for pilfering. This invention is concerned with this problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Among the general objects of this-invention is to provide a unit which can display the articles or can store them in a tamper-proof state to prevent pilfering while maintaining them readily accessible.

For the achievement of this and other objects, this invention proposes an arrangement wherein a plurality of elongated generally U-shaped members are supported for rotation in a frame. The frame is generally open except for a closure wall which extends over the elongated members. The elongated members are rotated between a closed position wherein the open sides thereof face the closure wall and an open position wherein they face away from the closure wall. In the former position, articles stacked in the area defined by the U-shaped members cannotbe removed but in the later position they are exposed for ready removal. An actuator is provided to effect the rotational movement of the elongated members and is exposed for manipulation only through a limited access area which can be closed making the actuator inaccessible. When the actuator is not in use to rotate the elongated members, it is locked in position thereby locking the elongated members against rotation.

With this arrangement cans, or the like, can be stacked within U-shaped members and can be covered to prevent unauthorized removal or exposed for removal or display.

Preferably, the U-shaped members are semi-circular so that pictorial illustrations of the stacked articles (canned oil for example) can be printed on the uninterrupted surface thereof. Thus, even when turned to the closure wall a sales display is presented.

Other objects and advantages will be pointed out in, or be apparent from, the specification and claims, as will obvious modifications of the embodiments shown in the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cabinet carrying tamper-proof storage and dispensing units embodying this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the upper portion of the cabinet with one side thereof removed;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the actuator alone taken generally along line 33 in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a section view taken generally along line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an elevation of the tamper-proof unit;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but with the columns in which the articles are stored rotated l80;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of alternative form of actuator; and

FIG. 8 is a front elevation of the actuator of FIG. 7

' with a portion of the cabinet wall.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With particular reference to the drawings, an upright cabinet 10 includes a base 12 a main body portion 14 and an upper portion 16. The upper portion includes a cover 18 which encloses an area in which a device such as a credit card console 20 can be housed. Cover 18 is I pivotally mounted in the cabinet for swinging movement about pins 22 located one on each side of the cabinet. FIG. 1 shows the cover closed while FIG. 2 shows it open. This general description of the cabinet and the cover will suffice at this point and the principal storage and dispensing unit for canned oil will now be described.

Two storage and dispensing units 24 are attached to the side walls 26 and 28 of the cabinet. Both units are identical in construction, connection to the cabinet and actuation so only one will be described, one description .believed to be sufficient for both. The unit comprises a generally open frame 30 made, up of side walls 32 and 34 and top and bottom walls 36 and 38. The frame is generally open but when it is connected to the cabinet side wall one side is closed, by that wall.

Frame 30 defines an area which has oppositely facing sides, in FIG. 1 one side abutting wall 28 and the other side 40'facing away from wall 28 and has a depth between those two sides, i.e. the distance between wall 28 and the outer side 40 of the frame. A plurality of generally U-shaped elongated members 42 are arranged vertically in the space defined by the frame and in side-byside relationship relative to each other. The elongated members extend between top and bottom walls 36 and 38 and are parallel to the side walls 32 and 34. The elongated members are generally U-shaped in cross section and preferably, as illustrated in FIG. 3, are generally semicircular.- With this configuration, the elongated members have a closed side 44 and an open side opposite to the closed side. Each of the elongated members includes a top 46 and'a base 48 and are supported for rotation on stub shafts 50 and 52 which are journaled top and bottom walls 36 and 38 respectively. With this mounting the elongated members can be rotated between an open position (FIG. 5) wherein the open sides of the U-shaped members-are directed toward side 40 of the unit, i.e. away from wall 26, and a closed position (FIG. 6) wherein the open sides thereof are directed toward the side wall.

Cans of oil 54 can be stacked in the area defined by the U-shaped members as illustrated in FIG. 5. When the elongated members are turned to the open position,

the oil cans are readily accessible for service and are In order to prevent pilfering and render the unit virtually tamper-proof, an actuator for the elongated members is provided which is accessible only through the access area which is selectively opened and closed by cabinet cover 18. I

The actuator is illustrated in the form of a connecting arm 56 carrying fingers 58, 60, 62, and 64 which are connected to the tops 46 of the elongated members by pins 66, 68, 70, and 72. A handle 74 is hinged to arm 56 on pin 76. When not held up, handle 74 assumes the position illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, in which position a lip 78 is positioned in either opening 80 or 82 depending on whether the elongated members are in the open or closed position. As will become more apparent as the description proceeds, engagement of lip 78 in one or the other opening prevents rotation of the elongated members from the front of the tamper-proof unit. The actuator can thus assume one of two positions corresponding .to the open and closed positions of the elongated members. Pins 66, 68, 70, and 72 are positioned off-center on their respective top members 46. By grasping handle 74 and releasing lip 78 the arm 56 can be moved to the left (dotted line position of FIG. 3) which will rotate each of elongated members 180 in clockwise direction. At the end of travel lip 78 is positioned in opening 82 locking the actuator and thus the elongated members in place. In this manner, the elongated members can be rotated in one direction, i.e. clockwise or counterclockwise, to position U-shaped members 42 in the open position to render the cans stacked therein accessible or they can be swung in the opposite direction to rotate the U-shaped members to the closed position. When the actuator has been manipulated to position the elongated members as illustrated in FIG. 4 and cover 18 is closed, the actuator and elongated members are locked in place and cannot be rotated and pilfering of the oil cans is completely prevented. The cover 18 can be locked to further prevent unauthorized removal of the oil cans. The tamperproof unit can be placed in the closed position in the evening for storage when the station is closed or can also be positioned in this manner during the day while the station is open to discourage pilfering even during that time.

One of the advantages of making the elongated members generally semi-circular is that indicia can be printed on the uninterrupted closed side 44 thereof which corresponds to the oil can, or the other articles stacked therein, so that even when in the closed position a type of sales display is provided.

An alternative form of actuator is illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. In this version the arm, fingers and eccentric pins are replaced by a rack and pinion arrangement. More specifically, gears 84 are connected to stub shafts 50 and engage rack 86. A handle 88 is connected to rack 86 and includes a support bracket 90 projecting from the rack through opening 92 in side wall 26. A second bracket 94 is hinged to bracket 90 and carries a lip 98. The lip, when the handle is not held, assumes the position of FIGS. 7 and 8 with lip 98 in opening 100, or 102.

Similar to the previously described actuator release of the handle by withdrawal of lip 98 from openings 100 or 102 and movement of the rack through a distance represented by the distance between openings 100 and 102. will rotate gears 84 and correspondingly the elongated members approximately 180 between the open and closed positions.

Handles 74 and 88 are biased to the position wherein their lip 78 or 98 are engaged in their respective openings. The handles could also be urged in that direction be springs and the term bias is used in that broad sense, i.e. urged toward a position by gravity or a spring.

Although the present invention has been illustrated and described in connection with certain embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: 1. A tamper-proof storage and dispensing unit comprising, in combination,

a generally open frame having oppositely facing first and second sides and a depth between said sides, a plurality of generally elongated members arranged vertically within said frame, said elongated members being generally U-shaped in transverse cross section and including means to support articles in a stacked condition within the area defined by said U-shaped elongated members,

means mounting each of said elongated members for rotation about a vertical axis between a closed position wherein the open sides of said U-shaped members are directed toward said first side of said frame and an open position wherein said open sides of said U-shaped members are presented to said second frame side,

actuating means connected to said elongated members and operative to rotate said elongated members about said axes to alternatively move said elongated members to said open and closed positions,

means connected to said frame and substantially covering said first side of said frame excpept for an access area through which said actuating means is accessible,

closure means including cabinet means operatively associated with said first side of said frame at said access area and said cabinet means including a cover and means mounting said cover for pivotal movement between open and closed positions to alternately cover and expose said actuating means,

and locking means for locking said actuating means against movement when said actuating means is in a position corresponding to either said open or closed position of said elongated members so that said elongated members cannot be rotated by direct manipulation thereof through said second side of said frame.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said actuating means is operative to move said elongated members in spective one of said elongated members at a point off-set from the axis of rotation thereof,

and a handle extending from said arm through an opening in the means covering said first side of said frame into said access area.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said locking means comprises a lip on said handle,

a pair of spaced openings adjacent said access opening, said openings corresponding one to the open position of elongated members and the other to the closed position thereof,

and said handle lip being received in one or the other of saidropenings depending on the position of said elongated members to lock said actuating means and elongated members against further movement without releasing said lip from the openings.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said frame is generally rectangular having top, bottom, and side walls,

wherein said elongated members extend between said top and bottom walls and are arranged in sideby-side relationship parallel to said side walls,

wherein said elongated members are generally semicircular in cross section. 7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said actuating means comprises a gear rack,

a plurality of gears, each connected to a respective one of said elongated members and engaging said gear rack,

and a handle extending from said rack through an access opening in the means covering said first side of said frame into said access area.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said locking means comprises a lip on said handle,

a pair of spaced openings adjacent said access opening, said openings corresponding one to the open position of elongated members and the other to the closed position thereof,

and said handle lip being received in one or the other of said openings depending on the position of said elongated members to lock said actuating means and elongated members against further movement without releasing said lip from the openings.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said frame is generally rectangular having top, bottom, and side walls,

wherein said elongated members extend between said top and bottom walls and are arranged in sideby-side relationship parallel to said side walls,

wherein said elongated members are generally semicircular in cross section. 

1. A tamper-proof storage and dispensing unit comprising, in combination, a generally open frame having oppositely facing first and second sides and a depth between said sides, a plurality of generally elongated members arranged vertically within said frame, said elongated members being generally U-shaped in transverse cross section and including means to support articles in a stacked condition within the area defined by said U-shaped elongated members, means mounting each of said elongated members for rotation about a vertical axis between a closed position wherein the open sides of said U-shaped members are directed toward said first side of said frame and an open position wherein said open sides of said U-shaped members are presented to said second frame side, actuating means connected to said elongated members and operative to rotate said elongated members about said axes to alternatively move said elongated members to said open and closed positions, means connected to said frame and substantially covering said first side of said frame excpept for an access area through which said actuating means is accessible, closure means including cabinet means operatively associated with said first side of said frame at said access area and said cabinet means including a cover and means mounting said cover for pivotal movement between open and closed positions to alternately cover and expose said actuating means, and locking means for locking said actuating means against movement when said actuating means is in a position corresponding to either said open or closed position of said elongated members so that said elongated members cannot be rotated by direct manipulation thereof through said second side of said frame.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said actuating means is operative to move said elongated members in rotational increments of generally 180*.
 3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said frame is generally rectangular having top, bottom, and side walls, wherein said elongated members extend between said top and bottom walls and are arranged in side-by-side relationship parallel to said side walls, wherein said elongated members are generally semi-circular in cross section.
 4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said actuating means comprises an elongated arm, a plurality of fingers extending from said arm to said elongated members and each connected to a respective one of said elongated members at a point off-set from the axis of rotation thereof, and a handle extending from said arm through an opening in the means covering said first side of said frame into said access area.
 5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said locking means comprises a lip on said handle, a pair of spaced openings adjacent said access opening, said openings corresponding one to the open position of elongated members and the other to the closed position thereof, and said handle lip being received in one or the other of said openings depending on the position of said elongated members to lock said actuating means and elongated members against further movement without releasing said lip from the openings.
 6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said frame is generally rectangular having top, bottom, and side walls, wherein said elongated members extend between said top and bottom walls and are arranged in side-by-side relationship parallel to said side walls, wherein said elongated members are generally semi-circular in cross section.
 7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said actuating means comprises a gear rack, a plurality of gears, each connected to a respective one of said elongated members and engaging said gear rack, and a handle extending from said rack through an access opening in the means covering said first side of said frame into said access area.
 8. The cOmbination of claim 7 wherein said locking means comprises a lip on said handle, a pair of spaced openings adjacent said access opening, said openings corresponding one to the open position of elongated members and the other to the closed position thereof, and said handle lip being received in one or the other of said openings depending on the position of said elongated members to lock said actuating means and elongated members against further movement without releasing said lip from the openings.
 9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said frame is generally rectangular having top, bottom, and side walls, wherein said elongated members extend between said top and bottom walls and are arranged in side-by-side relationship parallel to said side walls, wherein said elongated members are generally semi-circular in cross section. 